Means for preventing destructive electrolytic action



y 3, 1933. H. w PARKER 1,910,044

MEANS FOR PREVENTING DESTRUCTIVE ELECTROLYTIC ACTION Filed Dec. 14, 1931@WW 'Z PWQK I MM/IIIMMMW 5 uhummmfmmwl, I Z

ENTOR Parker Hem Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRYW. PARKER, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO ROGERS RADIO TUBES,LIMITED, 01? TORONTO, CANADA, A CORPORATION OF ONTARIO, CANADA MEANS FORr mvnn'rme DEsrRuc'rIvE ELECTROLYTIC ac'rron Application filed December14, 1931. Serial No. 580,797.

My invention relates in general to electron discharge devices and inparticular to the cooling systems utilized with high power electrondischarge devices of the exterior 'elec- 5 trode type.

It is an object of my invention to provide means for preventing thedestruction through electrolytic action of the water jackets used insuch cooling systems.

A further object of my invention comprises providing means for insertionin an electron discharge device cooling system, at desired points,whereby electric currents of sufficient magnitude to cause electrolyticdestruction of the water acket or other metal portions of the coolingsystem are diverted therefrom.

A'still further object contemplated by my invention consists inproviding an electrode of a material which will not disintegrate throughelectrolytic action for insertion in an electron discharge devicecooling system.

- A still further object comprises producing means whereby ordinary tapwater may be safely utilized in a thermionic tube cooling system.

In high power thermionic tubes the anodes of which are water cooled, thecooling or jacket water is led to and from the water jacket through arubber hose. Metal nipples join the hose to the water jacket and thesedistintegrate rapidly due to destructive electrolytic action of leakagecurrents from the tube anode. requiring replacement of the nipplcs andoften the complete water jacket at frequent intervals.- Various meanshave been utilized in the past in attempts to overcome this undesirablefeature which is a very real commercial disadvantage occasioniugnumerous' shut-downs of the apparatus employing the system and highreplacement costs. Among the expedients which have been tried have beenthe costly use of distilled water in the cooling system in an attempt toreduce the amount of electrolysis taking place to a minimum.

My invention is directed toward entirely eliminating such destructiveelectrolytic action by the use of an electrode which is 'in- 'serted atdesired places in the conduit conducting the cooling fluid, providingthereby means for by-passing destructive electrolytic currents from thewater jacket or other metal elements of the system usually subject todestructive electrolytic action.

In the figures accompanying and forming a part of this specification andin which like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout:

Fig.1 is a sectional elevation of my electrode; and,

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic representation of a thermionic tube coolingsystem showing my novel electrodes disposed therein to eliminatedestructive electrolytic action of the elements of the cooling system.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, my improved electrode comprises anenclosing envelope 1, preferably of glass or other vitreous material,shaped with an enlarged central portion and reduced outlet and inletportions 2 and 3 for insertion in a liquid tight manner in a fluid flowconduit. Within the envelope 1 there is provided a "fluid contact member4, preferably composed of carbon or graphite, as such material isnon-active with respect to the nascent hydrogen and oxygenreleased bythe electrolysis of water and is therefore not subject to disintegrationby electrolytic action. Electrical contact is made with the member 4 bymeans of preferably a tungsten terminal 5. which is sealed into theenvelope 1 preferably by means of a glass bead 6. The terminal 5 alsoserves as a support for the member 4. The other extremity of thetungsten terminal 5 is electrically connected with the member 4 andeemented therein by means of a water-proof cement 7. As illustrated inthe figure, the terminal 5 is fully protected from contact with thecooling fluid and thus not subject to electrolytic action.

Fig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the disposition of my novelelectrodes in'the conduit of a thermionic tube cooling system. The

anode of the tube 8 is enclosed in a liquid tight manner in the waterjacket 9 provided with an inlet nipple at the bottom thereof to which isattached by a short length of rubher hose 12 one of my improvedelectrodes 1. A length of hose 13 connects through an adelectrodes 1,the other extremity of which is connected by'a length of hose to anadditiona a1 electrode lwhich is similarly connected by a section ofhose 15 with a source for disposal of the jacket water, not shown. Theelectrodes nearest the water jacket 9 are connected thereto electricallyby means of conductors 17 and 18. They thus provide a low resistancepath for the current traversing the cooling water. The electrodes andthe con- 4 ductors 17 and 18 constitute in effect a by-pass for leakagecurrents which might otherwise electrolytically disintegrate the nipplesof the water jacket 9. Similarly, the source of supply and outlet towhich the sections of hose 15 and 16 are connected are protected bysimilar electrodes 1 connected to earth 14 by means of conductors 19 and20, respectively. These electrodes in a similar manner protect thesource of inlet and discharge from destructive' electrolytic action byproviding a path of lower resistance in shunt thereto. The column ofwater in the cooling system has a very high resistance in ohms per unitof length and the interposition of my electrodes interconnected bycopper conductors provides a much lower resistance path to effectivelyshuntcurrents which would otherwise produce severe electrolyticdisintegration in the water jacket or other metal portions of the systemwhich it is desired to protect.

It will be realized from the foregoing that with my improved electrodesproperly disposed in the fluid conduit of a thermionic tubecoolingsystem and interconnected electrically, I provide means for effectivelypreventing destructive electrolytic action of the tube water jacket toaccomplish reductions 2. Means for preventing destructive electrolyticaction of the water jacket of a thermionic tube cooling systemcomprising, a plurality of electrically interconnected conductorscomposed of a material resistant to electrolytic action each enclosedwithin a vitreous liquid tight container disposed in the fluid flowconduit of said cooling system.

in operating and upkeep costs and permit 3. An elect-rode comprising, anon-metallic envelope, a member composed of graphite

